Method And System For Call Management Based On Geographical Location

1. A method in a switching unit of switching calls involving an electronic communication device in an electronic communications system, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining position area information, including a cell identifier (ID) of a serving cell for the electronic communication device in response to a call service request from the electronic communication device, determining whether the cell ID is included in a list of cells eligible for a local policy, determining whether further position information for the electronic communication device is required or not, based on the cell ID; upon determining that the cell ID is included in the list of cells eligible for the local policy, and that further position information is not required, sending to a service control unit a message indicating that the position area is associated with the local policy and obtaining instructions from the service control unit for the call service; upon determining that further position information is required, obtaining from a base station controller further positioning information of the electronic communication device that better defines location of the electronic communication device within the serving cell, and sending to the service control unit a report message that contain the further position information, the report message is configured to cause the service control point to perform further local policy eligibility determination for the electronic communication device using the further position information; and based on the further eligibility determination by the service control unit, obtaining instructions from the service control unit for implementing the call service, wherein the local policy defines the call service for the calls from or to areas where the call service is to be employed.

2. The method of switching of call service according to claim 1 , wherein the step of sending a message comprises sending a message comprising GPS or MPS related position information associated with the location of the electronic communication device.

3. A switching unit being arranged for switching calls involving an electronic communication device, the switching unit comprising: a processor; a first application unit operable on the processor of the switching unit being arranged to obtain position area information, including a cell identifier (ID), of a serving cell for the electronic communication device in response to a call service request from the electronic communication device and determine whether the cell ID is included in a list of cells eligible for a local policy, and a second application unit operable on the processor of the switching unit and operatively connected to the first application unit, and adapted to be connected to a service control unit, the second application unit being arranged to determine whether further position information is required or not, based on the cell ID, send to the service control unit a message comprising information indicating that the position area is associated with the local policy and obtain instructions from the service control unit for the call service, upon determining that the cell ID is included in the list of cells eligible for the local policy and that further information is not required, upon determining that further position information is required, obtain from a base station controller further positioning information of the electronic communication device and, send to the service control unit a report message that further position information, the report message is configured to cause the service control point to perform further local policy eligibility determination for the electronic communication device using the further position information and based on the further eligibility determination by the service control unit obtain instructions from the service control unit for the call service, wherein the local policy defines the call service for the calls from or to areas where the call service is to be employed.

4. The switching unit according to claim 3 , wherein the second application unit is further arranged to send a message comprising GPS or MPS related information associated with the location of the electronic communication device.

5. A method in a service control unit of controlling a call service for calls involving an electronic communication device, where the electronic communication device is located within a position within a serving cell of a wireless electronic communications system, the method comprising: receiving from a switching unit a message comprising information indicating that a cell identifier (ID) of the serving cell of the electronic communication device is included in a list of cells eligible for a local policy, determining whether an entirety of the serving cell is associated with the local policy, upon determining that the entirety of the position area is not associated with the local policy, requesting further position area information from a network location server, making a further positioning by using the further position area information to achieve a better defined position information of the electronic communication within the serving cell, and determining whether an entirety geographical location corresponding to the better defined position information is associated with the local policy, and supplying call handling policy instructions comprising the local policy to the switching unit upon determining that the entirety of the better defined position area is associated with the local policy, wherein the local policy defines the call service for the calls from or to areas where the call service is to be employed.

6. The method of controlling a call service according to claim 5 , further comprising a step of retrieving policy information associating the further position with at least one geographical area associated with the local policy.

7. The method of controlling a call service according to claim 5 , wherein the step of receiving a message comprises receiving a message comprising GPS or MPS related position information associated with a location of the electronic communication device.

8. The method of controlling a call service according to claim 5 , further comprising supplying normal call handling instructions to the switching unit if the entirety of the serving cell is not eligible for the local policy.

9. A service control unit being arranged for controlling a call service for calls involving an electronic communication device, where the electronic communication device is located within a position within a serving cell of an wireless communication system, the service control unit including a processor being arranged to receive from a switching unit a message comprising information indicating that a cell ID of the serving cell for the electronic communication device is included in a list of cells eligible for a local policy, determine whether an entirety of the serving cell is associated with the local policy, upon determining that the entirety of the serving cell is not associated with the local policy request further position area information for the electronic communication device from a network location server, make a further positioning by using the further position area information to achieve a better defined position information of the electronic communication within the serving cell, and determine whether an entirety of the better defined position information is associated with the local policy, and supply call handling policy instructions comprising the local policy to the switching unit upon determining that the entirety of the better defined position area is associated with the local policy, wherein the local policy defines the call service for the calls from or to areas where the call service is to be employed.

10. The service control unit according to claim 9 , wherein the processor is further being arranged to retrieve policy information associating the position information with at least one area associated with the local policy.

11. The service control unit according to claim 9 , wherein the processor is further being arranged to receive from the switching unit a message comprising GPS or MPS related position information associated with a location of the electronic communication device.

12. The service control unit according to claim 9 , wherein the processor is further being arranged to supply normal call handling instructions to the switching unit if the entirety of the serving cell is not eligible for the local policy.

13. An electronic communication system for providing a call service for calls involving an electronic communication device, the system comprising: a switching unit and a service control unit, wherein the switching unit being arranged to be operatively connected to an electronic communication device and adapted to be operatively connected to the service control unit, the switching unit including a processor adapted to obtain position area information, including a cell ID, of a serving cell for a location of the electronic communication device response to a call service request from the electronic communication device, determine whether the cell ID is included in a list of cells eligible for a local policy, determine whether further position information for the electronic communication device is required or not, send to the service control unit a message comprising information indicating that the position area is associated with the local policy, upon determining that the cell ID is included in the list of cells eligible for the local policy and that no further position information is required, and obtain instructions of the local policy for employing the call service, for which a better defined position area of the electronic communication device is associated with the local policy if the further position information is required, and the service control unit including a processor being arranged to receive the message comprising information indicating that the position area of the electronic communication device is associated with the local policy, upon determining that the cell ID is included in the list of cells eligible for the local policy, determine whether an entirety of the serving cell is associated with the local policy, request further position area information for the electronic communication device from a network location server, perform a further positioning by using the further position area information to achieve the better defined position information of the electronic communication within the serving cell determine whether an entirety of the geographical area indicated by the better defined position information is associated with the local policy, and supply the local policy to the switching unit upon determining that the entirety of the geographical area indicated by the better defined position information is associated with the local policy, such that the switching unit can employ the call service by applying the local policy, wherein the local policy defines the call service for the calls from or to areas where the call service is to be employed.